Two women refuse to accept divorce on jirga verdict

DADU: A jirga chaired by a local wadera Mohammad Khan decided the divorce issue of two women by forcibly handing over their children to relatives of their fathers in Wahi Pandhi, Johi taluka. The jirga verdict was, however, refused to be accepted by the victim women.

Notables of Mastoi and Rustamani tribes also participated in the jirga

According to details, a dispute on matrimonial issue was going on for the last ten years between Rustmani and Mastoi of Kachho.

As woman Popri Rustamani had married Bhutto Mastoi while Zaibunnisa Mastoi got married with Ramzan Rustamani ten years back.

Zaibunnisa, mother of five and Popri, mother of four were worried about the lives of their children. Recently both the tribesmen clashed once again and the matter was reported to Wahi Pandhi police.

The area SHO pressurised both the parties to settle their dispute through jirga and the matte was referred to Wadera Mohammed Khan who decided that both the men should allow their wives to go and allowed their relatives to retain their children. One of the women Zaibunnisa Mastoi reached Wahi Pandhi press club and decried the decision of the local wadera and termed the decision unjustified.

She said that she was forcibly separated from her husband ten years ago and she was living separately, but now the landlord issued the verdict and she lost her children as well who are the only hope for her survival.

She said that she was ready to get separation from her husband but refused to hand over her children to relatives of her husband.

When contacted, SHO Wahi Pandhi, Bashir Ahmed Mallah, said that it was an old dispute which was going on for the last ten years between Rustamani and Mastoi tribesmen over matrimonial affairs.

He said that the two women had complained to Wahi Pandhi police that their husbands were not providing routine expenditures to them.

He said that the victims had complained that their husbands had got second marriage and they were trying to snatch their children.

He said that such matrimonial disputes are usually referred to local waderas for settlement. He said that he was not aware of decision.

Wadera Mohammad Khan said that he had given his verdict with the consent of Mastois and Rustamanis. He said that it was not a jirga but a decision with mutual understanding of both the parties.

DPO Dadu Pervez Ahmed Chandio has taken notice of this jirga and ordered an inquiry. He has appointed SPO Drigh Bala, Sikandar Qadri as inquiry officer.
Source: Dawn
Date:8/25/2009